LB05

Arthur Brown

ILB Kansas St.

Grade

116.0 INCH

Overview

Brothers Arthur and Bryce Brown were top recruits coming out of Wichita East High School, Arthur as a linebacker signing with Miami (Fla.) in 2008 and his brother going to Tennessee as a running back in 2009. Neither finished their careers with those schools, however, as they chose to complete them in the same place ?- Manhattan, Kansas, to play for head coach Bill Snyder. While Bryce?s contributions to the team were limited (three carries, 16 yards), Arthur became the impact player for which the Wildcats hoped.

He didn?t get much of a chance to play during his two years with the Hurricanes, getting in 23 contests (with no starts) and making just 17 tackles. Brown then redshirted his first season in Manhattan as a transfer student before starting all 13 games as a team captain in 2011. Named the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and first-team all-conference pick that same season, he racked up 101 tackles, 9.5 for loss, on the year. Against Baylor, Brown intercepted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III to set up the Wildcats? game-winning field goal -? it was the only second-half interception RG3 threw all season. His success continued in 2012, as Brown started every game at either inside or outside linebacker, amassing 100 total tackles, seven for loss, including one sack. He added four pass breakups and two interceptions, one of which came against West Virginia's Geno Smith, the Mountaineer's first of the season. Brown was set to participate int eh Senior Bowl, but an injury kept him off the field.

Analysis

Strengths

Instinctive player who usually finds the football and plays bigger than his height indicates. Strong, secure tackler who wraps and rarely misses, even against larger ballcarriers. Has the lower body power to stop backs? momentum when head-up and brings power into his stops when attacking ballcarriers in space. Uses hands very well. Keeps feet moving through contact. Moves towards the play side even if formation is used as misdirection. Attacks fullbacks in the hole, and does not shy from contact with linemen in the box. Uses his hands to keep pulling guards at bay, but can also dip under their shoulder to avoid their reach. Adept in coverage, can get his hands on a slot receiver or tight end, yet still come off to run with a crosser. Keeps an eye on receivers running behind him, can stay with them across the field. Handles running backs in the flat and on wheel routes. Competitive on 50/50 balls. Consistently hustles from one sideline to the other. Shows some quickness through gaps as a blitzer.

Weaknesses

Will be considered undersized for the inside linebacker position and doesn't have much room to grow into. Maturity questions were raised after transfer from Miami. Won't blow up blocker in front of him causing a log jam in the hole. Are times he overruns the hole due to poor vision, fails to recognize his misstake and reset.

NFL Comparison

NaVorro Bowman

Bottom Line

The brother of the Philadelphia Eagles' 2012 seventh-round draft pick, running back Bryce Brown, transferred from Miami (Fla.) to see the field more regularly. It didn't take long for Arthur to make an impact at Kansas State and became the Wildcats' most consistent force on the defensive side of the ball during his tenure in Manhattan. Some will question his size, but Brown plays much bigger than his frame suggests due to strong hands and a physical attitude on contact. He projects as either an inside linebacker or weak-side prospect in the NFL.